BJP is hoping to win over traditional Congress voters and turn the tide in its favour, as it takes on the Left Front in poll-bound Tripura.

Congress in Tripura has traditionally won 10 seats. In 2013, the state unit managed to retain its 2008 tally of 10 seats. However, there has been an exodus of MLAs and grassroots workers after it aligned with the Left to fight the 2016 assembly polls in Bengal.

Congress MLA SR Barman, who along with five others joined BJP in the run-up to polls, said: “People are not going to spoil the anti-Left vote and will cast their votes in favour of BJP. There always existed the anti-Left vote in Tripura.” Last Sunday, Union finance minister Arun Jaitely had said in Tripura that the anti-Left space in the state has been taken over by BJP.,

Political observers said BJP is banking heavily on the anti-Left vote base. “Congress, though contesting 59 seats in the 60-member assembly, is no longer a force to reckon with and the state is witnessing a straight political fight between BJP and the Left,” an observer said. “The outcome of the poll will be determined by non-Left voters, who had in the past voted for Congress. Voters in Tripura, like in Bengal, have voted on distinct political lines.”

BJP chief Shah alleged Congress was assisting the Left by splitting the non-Left votes. AICC general secretary V Narayanasamy said BJP was a non-entity in Tripura two years ago and Congress was the only party fighting the Left in Tripura and Kerala.